Review of Robert Pattinson's Cosmopolis - Notes he is perfect as Eric Packer

Review of Robert Pattinson's Cosmopolis - Notes he is perfect as Eric Packer

UPDATE: Added another translation to the post from Alt Film Guide:

An early Cosmopolis review has come out via Studio Ciné Live‘s Fabrice Leclerc. Directed by the iconoclastic David Cronenberg, who adapted Don DeLillo’s novel, and starring Robert Pattinson, Cosmopolis is definitely one of the most eagerly anticipated films at the Cannes Film Festival 2012.

The headline of Leclerc’s brief, three-star (out of five) Cosmopolis review reads: "A Cronenberg as brilliant as he is taut." Leclerc then begins his review by explaining that Cronenberg and DeLillo are "manufacturers of fantastic, unhealthy, and at times somber environments, of the science of language, and of totally chaotic characters. And of controversy as well."

Referring to Cosmopolis as a "ghostly and hypnotic" tale, Leclerc adds that Cronenberg had adapted to the letter DeLillo’s "ultrarich prose, filming with an incredible inventiveness this stifling and disturbing airtight environment."

As for Robert Pattinson, Leclerc says he’s "impeccable" until Cosmopolis‘ last segment, when, "lost in a verbal torrent," Pattinson "seems, all of a sudden, to be no longer in control."

Leclerc wraps up his review with the following: "As always with Cronenberg, there are no half-measures, no second gateway, no escape. Cosmopolis is to be experienced in full or not at all. Take it or leave it."

I would debate the reviewers issue of losing control at the end. That's actually what I would want to see from Eric Packer at the end. Can't wait to see this movie!



Studio Ciné Live (French) released a review of Cosmopolis. If you understand French, click the thumbnail at the bottom to read. We're going to need to get used to the translations, guys. Cannes will be producing tons of article and videos that will likely be dubbed and translated.

The reviewer gives the film 3 out of 5 stars and the main issue they had was Cronenberg's choice to stick with the author's text. They cite it works in some areas and felt it didn't in others. The review is also a bit shallow. A majority of the review is just a summary of the movie.

I personally like what I've seen in the clips. It's like we're watching a play. I like the the unique cadence since this is a unique day. It's going to be interesting to see how people respond that have never read the book.

Translation:

A Cronenberg as brilliant as he is firm.

Each in their own genre, David Cronenberg and Don DeLillo are silversmiths of fantastic, unhealthy and sometimes dark atmospheres. As well as of the science of language and characters in shambles and - let's not forget - of controversy.
 
It's then pretty obvious that one would end up adaptation the other's work. Cosmopolis is the ghostly and hypnotic story of a day in the life of a golden boy who is about to lose his empire because of the crisis, indifferent to the world that surrounds him. He's hypochondriac and schizophrenic. His long journey across a chaotic New York, rythmed by meetings with his wife, his mistresses and his employees, will lead him to a point of no return. In a perfect balanced cinematic movement, David Cronenberg decided to adapt to the letter the extremely rich prose of Don DeLillo. He filmed with an incredible ingenuity this stifling and unsettling closed-door.
 
This preconception to stay faithful to the text of the author is amazing but not without any danger. Especially in the last part of the film, where one could definitely get lost in a verbal flood that becomes complex for the viewer and for Robert Pattinson - who was perfect until then - but seems, all of the sudden, to lose control.

As always with Cronenberg, there's no in between, no second place, no way out. Cosmopolis gets appreciated at full or not at all. Take it or leave it.

Click to read the French version


Source | Translation: Source via